It&rsquo;s much easier to find paints and adhesives that contain fewer VOCs and metals than their predecessors, but make sure you read the fine print.
Paints and adhesives in the United States have come a long away. They no longer contain lead or other heavy metals. Most contain only a fraction of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they did ten years ago. Oil-based (alkyd) paints have largely been replaced by water-based latex products. But the conversion hasn&rsquo;t always been smooth, and it&rsquo;s far too early to declare &ldquo;mission accomplished.&rdquo;

Some of the first brands of ultra low VOC products got a bad rap a few years ago. These new paints were not as stable, harder to apply, and almost impossible to find. They set back the transition to &ldquo;green&rdquo; paint, especially among contractors.

But those quality problems have been solved. Most of the latest generation of low-impact paints and adhesives perform almost as well as their solvent counterparts. But beware of exaggerated green claims. Some companies like to hint that their paint brands are eco-friendly, when they&rsquo;re really just doing the bare minimum&mdash;meeting regulatory standards. The same consumer caution should apply to adhesives. Remind yourself that the color of a product&rsquo;s container or labeling may have nothing to do with what&rsquo;s inside.

As you consider low-VOC, no-VOC, and other emissions claims, here are some points to consider.

VOCS THEY&rsquo;RE NOT ALONE
Just because a paint is low in volatile organic compounds, doesn&rsquo;t mean it&rsquo;s safe to apply it in your home without wearing property safety gear&mdash;or that it won&rsquo;t release other dangerous pollutants. VOCs are just one category of paint ingredient. Even if a paint contains no VOCs at all, it may contain hazardous airborne pollutants (HAPs). These take the form of both gases and tiny particles that have been shown to cause respiratory trouble, especially for people with asthma. Household cleaners and bath products often contain both VOCs and HAPs as well, so you can&rsquo;t blame paint for all your indoor air quality issues, but when selecting a finish or an adhesive or caulk, make sure the manufacturer gives a full account of all potential pollutants, not just VOCs.

FACTORY FINISH A GREEN IDEA
For certain painting and finishing projects, doing the job at home may not be the best option if you want to limit the volume of pollutants released inside. For cabinets, shelves, and flooring, you often have the option of a &ldquo;baked on&rdquo; factory finish. This may require an extra day or two for delivery, but it&rsquo;s well worth the time and cost for people sensitive to paint fumes. At the factory, high heat speeds the paint or stain&rsquo;s release of VOCs and other toxins. That accelerated pollution happens in a controlled environment, not inside your home.

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AFM SAFECOAT DUROSTAIN
Safecoat stains and dyes contain no formaldehyde or toxic dye materials, The company has replaced them with natural pigments. DuroStain is SCS certified and contains no gilsonite, asphalt, or aromatic solvents. www.afmsafecoat.com

OLYMPIC PREMIUM INTERIOR PAINT
Widely available in retail outlets, Olympic&rsquo;s premium line of paints and primers contains no VOCs. We&rsquo;d like to see the company raise the bar higher by publishing a disclosure about the ingredients that have replaced the toxic binders and solvents. www.olympic.com